What I liked
Rahvaunia wrote and performed every character with such an exacting vision that I can still clearly remember their mannerisms and lives. I praise the breadth of their stories. The main characters were never reduced to just their status: they became real through their external/internal conflicts of religion, social status, and family. Rahvaunia’s passionate writing carved out genuine, electric stories of Black women with HIV that have been historically concealed. Most mesmerizing was her seamless and constant transitions between characters; clearly, a lot of effort was put into blocking and character identity to devise such an effortless flow. The best part of it all was, I could feel afterwards, that everyone in the audience left with a true optimism and starting point to facilitate real-world conversations about HIV in our communities. Hilarious, heartfelt, and inspiring.
What I didn't like
The host character, Eena, is sensibly utilized to segue between stories. While I enjoyed her unrestrained humor of energetic spiritualism—I am curious to see what it would look like for her to partially shed the leadership facade and ultimately display a vulnerable humanity similar to the other main characters.
My overall impression
Rahvaunia excels at navigating distinct characters with an urgent through line. HIV is still a taboo topic in many communities; her portrayals effectively open the door with humor and without judgement.
